Pneumatic action for musical instruments.



'W. E. AUSTIN.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.v

APPLICATION FILED 1uLY'20. :91s.

1,295,672. Patented, Feb. .25, 1919.

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` hereinafter To all` whom z'tmay' concern:

a single valve,

UNITED STATES' PATENT oFFIoE. i

WILLIs'E. AUSTIN,h or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

rNEUMATIcAcTIoN FORMIISICVAI. INSTRUMENTS.-

' n VYsliec'ificatio'n ofrette'rsratent.' PatentdFeb. 25,191.9.

Appuca'ti'un med July 2o. 19,16. seriai Ne.4 110,307.

Be it known that I,WILLIs E; AUSTIN, a citizen of the United States, .residenti of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Actions for Musical Instruments lowing is a specification.`

My invention relates to a pneumatic action for organs and other wind instruments and the obj ect of the invention is to provide a pneumatically operatedmotor for controlling the mechanism of the instrument which will be positive and reliable in its action', easily accessible, and removable for substitution or repairs, and which will dispense entirely with the ordinary bellows pneumatic and pouch action or control incidental to a pneumatically operated musical instrument. f

A further object is to provide a motor and 'valves operated thereby which can be utilized in different parts of the instrument for controlling the flow of `the air pressure.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

The inventionconsists generally in various constructionsV andcombinations, all as described and. particularly pointed out in the'claims. -f z In the accompanying 4drawings forming .part of this specification,

valve and pouch member. v

Fig..8 1s a sectional view of a device for .operating a double arrangement of Valves,

showing the motor with'. reciprocating. member mounted 'in :the windchamber. 'i

Fig. 9is a' plan fview,.taken' on the line g/-g/.of Fig. 8, showing part H removed. In the-drawing, Fig. 1, A and A represent themotor frame, Band Bf movable plates or supports'and C pouch members thereon. These pouch membersjare of liexi,

, of which the folble Amaterial mounted on thel inner lfaces of said plates and project outwardly beyond f' the edges thereof. D represents Sheetsv of ffiexible packing interposed between the frames A andl Avand the ymotor bar E. L

represents an air pressurel 'chamber sur-V rounding the frames or motors, as theymay be termed, and normally containing air under' pressure. '4 N and N represent valves mounted 'respectively on the' supports "B and lB .and O is a passage leading vfromthe valves to the pipes (not shown) of theorgan. T represents the top board ofthe wind chest, U and U the side boards thereof, and V the bottom board. This boardincloses the pressure compartment L andthe motors yand valves. YNormally thepassage K` will be under pressure, the air being supplied as.

in common practice under-controll of a' valve (not shown) and when it is released, as by the' movement of aA key of the organ, the

pressure inthe chamber L being in excess' of the reducedfpressu in Kwill unseat the valve M andadmit airto'the passage O vand the pipe. When sufcient Apressure is allowed to 'enter the passage K,the position of the plate will lbe reversed and'it will move outwardly to'again seat the' valve vNand cut off the flow of air from the chamberLto the pipe. The frame A has an opening B" into which thesupport B is inserted, and said framezhas a chamfered surface A (see Fig. 3) upon which theilexible yedges of "the pouch member C are adapted to rest, said edges fitting between the frame A and the packingl), one en'd of said pouch member forminga hinge on which the support' B may rock back and forth within the opening B to seat or unseat the valve M'. The packing D, as indicated in Fig. 5, is secured to the surface ofthe frame'A at the top 'and Y sides but at the bottom is left loose or de,-

tached so'that it can be bent outwardly to permit the insertion of the support B 4into the opening B. To allowthe support B to rock iniits supporting iframe, I provide Y' lows suilicient movement of the-support to open-,or close the valve. A The' pouchY member C of this support bearing on the edge of the opening in the frame, has the function subf I -stantially of a packing'for the oscillating support to prevent the escape of air. -fThe space at the rear of the rflexible Ymember, C and with `which `communicatesthe, passage ,Keonstitutes in effect a chamber1 receiving thea-'alve N and close the passageO, the Y edge eihile, and fthe 'valve Yeen The ,ireadi ty freinovel itrem air from passageY K and permitting,` the valve to move toward the same when air pressure Y therein isaed'uced andthe excess-foi1 air pressure in Wind chest chamber L moves the valve in that direction in unseating the valve. VhenAthe support B is movedto seat edges of the pouch member will beheldzby the pressure in the passage K against the oh-alnafered edge of the fnpening 5B and :them .will 'be Yno escape vof air fareund athis 4whene-.ner desired, vitliefsujp port-B the lfreme lthrongh fthe opening therein :with- Y'ont themecessity offdetacliing anyothenpart .fofthepnen1n atic;zxction. @Gbvieuslyathisiisia n decided adxiantage y'i n a device fof sthis akind,

:as .it permits #che quick and convenient 4ne- `newal 'of a 'value or of the A pouch-fmember lin sFfig. 8 I ,zh alve shown a i,motor fdevice for operatlnga fdoublie )arrangement of valves.

. The principle :is practicallylthe :same .as the @the :space containing' wir Aunder fpriessu'fre.

one described, except itlmt :the :valveisupp ort A'momes fin a :straight luie `andthe ,valve 1s not directly mounted en the support, itheizeby 1adaptingetheflnovement:tor-another 'function `iin the :instrument In :this view, fGr 'represents -n (constant pressure compartment or fis th'e vrupper kalief :the xinotor chamber `and 3H fis the flower fpontion thereof. I is the :pont..c:er`1'-t1'ofl'led` byith'e valves 1M and M. SP `is a imovirble unemlv'fer.A @zand .'Q" afre the chiamfered 4 fsurraees L orf v.the .motor chamber and R Vvis tlrefpouc'h lmember lamounted to arest `onithesaidfsurfEa-ccs and :is aired connect- '.ieng said -movingmem'ber with the vzilfves M :eind QM. .fl is :a Sport' .communicating with the :motor chamber.' 'rhen v:the ressure is rreleased senoneside Jeff .the motor ithe 4valves will be goperafted Sto open or :close the :pont :lead-ing to thechaniberG, fa; ft' e saine time closing andlopeningthe ventto' fthe outer atmosphere 1in a @siinilar manner, as shown land :described .with ILr@ference to the conetructiondn Fig. il.

The 'valves and' meters shown in `the-severall lligures .are adapted for xuse in diierent parte bei. a pipe organ y and may lalso be enif-.ployed' for fa .vpriety `-o't aises in tthe action 'ci' otherimusical instruments controlled or actuyate'd Slay rair pressure'. vYI do not vwi-sli, #theretenente beconfined tovlthe specific illustration and -useaof the invention lierein; described.

Y, i'il claim aslmy invention: 'i Y l.' ina pneumatic action, a trame having fain-opening therethrough, a support for said :fra-me, :valve supportinrgmegans Iand -vzflve seatedltolreckongsaid iframe and lrncfnnred vto move-Within f said -open-'ingjiniactuatien of the val\'e,'said valve supporting means being insertible into and removable trom said iframe.

2. In a pneiuna-.tic actimi, a frame and valve' and a Vsupport Lforthe valve, a flexible member attached to said support .and bearingfreely against the-frame, said `valveand :suppeistsbeingsmparable from the frame, an opening' being, formed at the lower end of the frame through `which said `ivalve `and support may be xinsertedsand removed,

3.- vJn a `pneumatic faction, fa motor xcoinprising a naimehavling Aan opening githerein, ,a :Na/lne supporting Afmezms having a pouch zmember,extent-.ting beyondktheeedges thereof, Vsaid iframe :having .a :surface Whereon seid pouch member is adaptedlto :rest,;-said malveysupporting.imeans'loeing:mounted lto rock at .one lend fon .said frame ywithin said fopening :to seat or unseat said valve Y et. Isn allpneumatic aet1on,;a rfi-aine having :anopeningithenein lprovided with a :cham- -ered :edge-a `valvefsupporting; means llialv- Hing aa ipouohmelnber --to v:rest on said cham- 'lered iedge, sa`fid :pouch-.member at one 4end of lsaui'l :meansJbeingfseatel in sa'd trame and -:orniing laf-hinge Lon which said valve-supl porting lLinea-ns Arocks in said opening, "and a valve carried by said means. i fln aiV pneumatic -a ction, .a iframe fha-ving an opening therein andaApaelcingencircling 'snid ol-oeningy agvalve support liaxing .a flexible memberftihe'reon i'fitt',ing-lbetween"the edge fofsaidfopeningland said-packing and resting on'f'lthe 44el'ge fo'ff said opening, lsaid -sup- 'port hav-ing =af1movement v'Wit-hin said openlbe'ing afemovable', a valve `Acarried "by said support and meansor Vcreating unequal L-.pressuire uponop'posite sides -o-l-feai d 'sup-port. f6. In, a pneumaticaction, a frame iliaving Aanlopening iiherethrou 11, a valve-supportingimeln'bn'fitting `witl-inand closing said opening and mounted-to rock at "one end in said'frame, and a valve carniedby/theopposr'teendof-said'meirben 'Y "-7. -In a -pn'e-ulnatic v action a motor 4rzune,

v"and" 'fa 'packing' therefor, said -rame and packing' having openings therein. .a support 4litt-'ing within said opening andhaiifing .a pouch memberA 'to "lap, by 'the edge 'of l,said opening*between it 'and said packing, said support rocking on one jend o'f said-iframe sides eff Asa'ide"stippen, f

9. In a pneumatic action, a frame having an opening therein, a support for said frame, a packing interposed between said frame and support, a gap being provided between the edge of Said opening and said packing, a plate having a pouch member on one side projecting beyond the edges thereof and lifting into said gap, said plate fitting loosely within said opening and said pouch member resting on the edge thereof, and a valve carried by said plate.

l0. In a pneumatic action, a movable member mounted in a chamber and provided with a flexible member disposed to bear against the wall of said chamber, said exible member being free and unattached except to the movable member, a valve connected with the movable member, and means Y for creating unequal pressure upon opposite sides of the movable member.

1l. In a pneumatic action musical instrument, a movable member mounted in a chamber and provided with a flexible member disposed to bear against the wall of said chamber, said flexible member being free and unattached except to the movable member, a sound-producing control member actuated by the movable member, and means for creating unequal pressure upon opposite sides of the movable member.

12. In a pneumatic actionmusical instrument, a base structure having a pipe opening and a valve closing air pressure chamber, a freely movable member and a valve` associated @therewith to control the pipeV opening, said member and valve being positioned intermediate of said air chamber and pipe opening, and movable into valve closing position by air pressure in the air chamber, and a projecting flexible strip carried by said movable member to prevent passage of air from one side to the other thereof and free and unattached except to said member.

In a pneumatic action musical instrument, a base structure having a pipe openber, a. freely movable member and a valve associated therewith to control the pipe opening, said member and valve being positioned intermediate of said air chamber and pipe opening and movable into valve opening and closing position by air pressure acting on said movable member, and a projecting and a valve closing air preure chaming iiexible strip carried by said movable member to prevent passage of a1r from one side to the other thereof and free and unattached except to said member.

14. In a pneumatic action musical instrument, a base structure having an air oonduit and a valve closing air pressure chamber, a freely movable member and a valve associated therewith to control the air conduit, said valve being positioned intermediate of said air chamber and air conduit and movable by air pressure on said member into position to control the air conduit, and a projecting flexible strip carried by said movable member to prevent passage of air from one side to the other thereof and free and unattached except to said member.

l5. In a pneumatic action musical instrument, a base structure having a valve closing air pressure conduit and air chamber, a

vfreely movable member and a valve associated therewith to control the air conduit, said valve -being positioned intermediate of said air chamber and air conduit and movable by air pressure on said member into position to control the air conduit, an apertured member in which said movable member is free to move and formed with a chamfer, and a projecting flexible strip carried by said movable member and positioned to bear against the chamfer of the apertured member, said strip being free and unattached except to said movable member.

16. In a pneumatic action musical instrument, a base structure having a valve closing air pressure conduit and air chamber, a freely movable member and a valve associated therewith to control the air conduit, said valve being positioned intermediate of said air chamber and air conduit and movable by air pressure on said member into position. to control the air conduit, an apertured member in which said movable member is free to move, a projecting HeXible strip carried by 'said movable member and free and unattached except to said member, and a seat of flexible material associated with the apertured member and on which the flexible strip freely seats.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of July, 1916.

wiLLis E. AUSTIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. i' 

